George Mason University · 1 month ago
Assistant Director Research and Shop Safety
Manassas, VA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/ExecutiveGeorge Mason University is a large and diverse institution committed to providing a safe environment for its community. The Assistant Director of Research and Shop Safety will lead safety programs, conduct inspections, and collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure compliance and enhance safety culture across multiple campuses.
Education
Responsibilities
Develops and maintains safety programs around 3D Printing, Instructional and Research Shop Safety, Marine Safety, Autonomous Vehicles and Drones, Robotics and Blimps Field Research and Heat Safety (risk assessments, written guidance documents, and training modules), and Local Exhaust Ventilation. Develops other safety trainings as assigned
Provides both on-site and written safety assessments to ensure compliance with safety standards. Performs inspections of research and teaching spaces and prepares inspection reports, provides corrective actions, and follows up with stakeholders to ensure corrective actions are completed. Conducts safety reviews of proposed new construction and renovations in teaching and research shop spaces
Serves as a programmatic liaison between research and instructional shops and other Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team members as needed. Functions as the EHS liaison for engineering and research shop activities. Maintains general knowledge and understanding of EHS requirements outside of direct responsibilities and consults with EHS colleagues and subject matter experts when necessary. Collaborates with Risk Management and other EHS team members to coordinate overlapping program areas in engineering, such as fire safety, industrial hygiene, radiation and chemical safety, and travel-related risk management
Creates and implements goals, performance metrics, and project plans to support program management. This includes developing, implementing, and overseeing research and shop programs and services for university personnel across multiple campuses, in alignment with regulatory and external agency requirements. Serves as the primary point of contact for faculty, staff, and students regarding research and shop program inquiries and acts as the main liaison with regulatory agencies on research shop safety matters
Serves on various university committees as assigned. Assigns and conducts document reviews for research and shop materials and training programs, following the RSR document management process. Reviews EFROA submissions, incident reports, and accident and incident data, implementing corrective actions when necessary
Responsible for compiling and submitting data and narratives for the Annual Report. Collaborates with and/or supports other RSR functional units to complete projects and advance RSR programs. Ensures timely notification to appropriate parties regarding emergencies, urgent issues, high-risk and high-profile threat assessments, regulatory agency notifications, inspections (both announced and unannounced), and significant safety concerns. This includes situations involving principal investigators, contractors, students, employees, visitors, or emerging off-campus safety threats, as well as personnel matters that may lead to disciplinary action or complaints from internal or external stakeholders
Performs administrative functions related to oversight of the research and shop program. Responsible for effective employee supervision and performance management; fostering employee engagement, morale, and satisfaction; professional development planning; reviewing university time, leave requests, and conformance with RSR Leave Matrix; adjusting responsibilities as workloads, capacity, and skills evolve; reviewing employee projects and goals and prioritize as necessary; mentorship and supervision; disciplinary action when necessary; and completes all required state, university, RSR, and position specific required training and supervises employee training compliance
Qualification
Required
Master's degree in public health, science, safety, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience (a degree from an unrelated field may be accepted with an equivalent level of training and experience in a safety discipline)
Significant relevant work experience including both technical and program management responsibilities
Demonstrated supervisory experience, creating professional development plans, performance plans, and conducting personnel evaluations
Experience developing and editing written safety compliance plans and associated documents
Experience developing and presenting safety training programs
Certification in CPR and First Aid or ability to obtain within 60 days
Knowledge of engineering and/or shop safety needs and program areas
Knowledge of applicable safety regulations and guidelines including proper personal protective equipment and training requirements
Proficiency in the use of related office equipment, computers and software, including Microsoft Office Suite
Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet inflexible deadlines on own initiative
Ability to implement and maintain applicable safety programs
Ability to coordinate and deliver applicable safety training to a diverse audience
Ability to conduct thorough safety inspections
Ability to lift 40 lbs., bend, crawl, and kneel with or without reasonable accommodation
Ability to work independently, under pressure, with strong problem-solving skills
Ability to interpret data, scientific research, training, or experience to facilitate resolution of assigned cases and develop appropriate mitigation action
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and writing)
Ability to independently recognize programmatic growth opportunities and problem solve/implement strategic solutions, strong vision and self-starter with ability to both expand existing programs and build programs from the ground-up
Ability to be a team player and collaborator to develop and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues and customers
Ability to influence through persuasion, 'get to yes' mindset
Ability to think creatively and strategically to utilize limited resources to solve new problems
Must live within 25 miles of the Fairfax or Science and Technology campus
Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator's license that meets all of GMU's requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason's Vehicle Use Policy 1411
Due to the unique role that RSR plays in emergency situations, each employee is designated to respond as requested during emergencies. Expectations for availability require that home and cell phone numbers be provided. In emergency situations, these numbers may be called and it is expected that the employee will respond when they are able. Repeated instances of unavailability will be addressed by the supervisor, however, the employee is not expected to be 'on call'
Preferred
Certified Industrial Hygienist and/or Certified Safety Professional credentialing
Experience working in a higher education setting
Company
George Mason University
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution.
Founded in 1957
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
George Mason University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (61)
2024 (51)
2023 (66)
2022 (61)
2021 (18)
2020 (24)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$0.68MKey Investors
National Safety CouncilNational Institute of Standards and TechnologyVirginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
2025-06-25Grant· $0.05M
2024-04-03Grant· $0.2M
2023-08-03Grant· $0.07M
Leadership Team
Bassam Haddad
Director, Middle East and Islamic Studies Program
Ellen Laipson
Director, International Security Program
Recent News
2025-11-15
American Institutes for Research
2025-11-05
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